The Stacking Benjamins Show

Want to be rich? Harvard's Dr. Robert Waldinger says more money won't necessarily make you happier. Fame? Yeah, that doesn't do it, either. Today we dive into the TRUE keys to happiness with the man who heads up the world's longest research study on the topic. He'll share the data and what you can do to transform your life into a much sunnier place. There was also BIG new legislation late last year. With wide-ranging changes impacting retirement withdrawal rules, retirement saving amounts, accounts and eligibility, college fund rollovers, and more. We'll walk through a laundry list of new opportunities and share some ideas on how to use them best. Of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to a Stacker with a question AND share some of Doug's amazing trivia. FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/robert-waldinger-1302 Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every year we ask a magic 8 ball that Len Penzo purchased at Walmart to predict the future. In the early years the ball was spot-on. Lately...not so much. But we do learn a lot about not falling into "current thinking" traps and about not worrying so much about what's top-of-mind in the moment. The truth tends to have a longer shelf life. So, we'll spend the first half of the show with Len, OG, and a mystery guest diving into last year's predictions and reliving some of 2022. Then we'll spend the second half prognosticating 2023. It's a lot of fun and we hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed recording it. FULL SHOW NOTES https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/magic-8-ball-1301 Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It feels like yesterday we were fastening the string between two tin cans in mom's basement to make a podcast...but now we've actually reached 1300 episodes. We've spent lots of time talking about the guests and special events that have shaped our little basement-based money literacy project, but we haven't talked about some of the big headlines we've covered. So today, we've picked three out of the 1300 to focus on that represent much of what we've covered over the last nearly twelve years. But that's not all. In our headlines segment, Adam Carroll joins us to talk about shredding your debt in 2023. While other Americans are busy opening up new credit cards, we'll challenge you to swim upstream and instead join the Stackers who are focusing on slashing not just their payments but also the amount they owe to other people. You'll love the feeling of freedom being debt-free gives you. FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/episode-1300 Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If there's anything we've become great at, it's committing too much of our time, money, and lives to things we don't care about. Today we'll help you start the new year on the right foot by learning to commit to ONLY those important things and take control of your time. Dr. Don Davis joins us to tackle this vital topic that'll help us frame the rest of this year in the right light. But that's not all. We kick off today's show with a headline to help you ramp up your retirement savings. Then we'll share an ugly TikTok minute about a recent crypto implosion. And, of course, we'll also throw out the Haven Life line to answer a Stacker call for help. FULL SHOW NOTES: https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/don-davis-1299 Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Magic 8 Ball is back. Ahead of our show next week where our regulars will ask the Magic 8 Ball their questions for the coming year, we're going back to the predictions made last year. We take a look at the questions asked of the Magic 8 Ball and find out how many it got right. Take a look at the original show notes and full Magic 8 Ball predictions for the year here. Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/magic-8-ball-1298. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What does it take to be a great leader? David Gergen served four US Presidents (from both parties) and believes that our youth have the potential to be great leaders in society. To round out our week of most inspirational guests, we bring back our conversation with David. He talks about leadership, service, and how you can help motivate and inspire others around you. Take a look at the original show notes here. Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/david-gergen-1297. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Inspiration can come from almost anywhere and creativity plays a huge role. Don't think you are creative enough to come up with great ideas? Think again. Daniel Lamarre is the former CEO and now Executive Vice-Chairman of the Board of the legendary company Cirque du Soleil. He joined us to talk about why creativity is crucial to professional and personal success and shares his own journey with Cirque du Soleil to improve in every area of his own career. Check out the original show notes here. Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/daniel-lamarre-1296. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Step into the New Year with a new perspective on influence. Getting what you want and deserve doesn't have to be a negative thing. Zoe Chance is an expert in influence and is an Assistant Professor at Yale. She joined us to share her secrets to positive influence and happiness. She talks about the power of ‘no’, charisma, and my favorite, the Kindly Brontosaurus technique. Take a look at the original show notes here. Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/zoe-chance-1295. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Finding great mentors and role models isn't always easy. Once you find one, hold on tight. Professor Scott Galloway joined us to share his thoughts on education, role models, patriotism, and so much more. His new book takes a fascinating look at the U.S. and explains how we got where we are today, achievements we’ve made, failures and our socioeconomic systems, and all explained in charts. Check out the original show notes here. Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/scott-galloway-1294. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Year-end is a time to reflect on the past year and set new goals for the year ahead. What lessons did you learn in 2022? Our roundtable joins us today to share their biggest takeaways. Paulette Perhach (Powerhouse Writers), Len Penzo (len penzo dot com) and OG join us to talk about 2022. They share their thoughts on crypto, the stock market, and how to position yourself to be successful financially. And then, we crown the annual trivia contest winner with the best trophy anyone has ever seen! Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1293. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

2022 is coming to an end. What were your biggest takeaways and lessons for the year, financial or otherwise? A volatile stock market, rising interest rates, and uncertainty left a lot of people feeling uneasy about their investments but there's a silver lining. Katie Gatti from Money With Katie joins us to share her top five takeaways from 2022. She says that if you got through 2022 and have a clear outlook on your financial plan for the upcoming year, you are in a better position than you might think. She talks about lessons from crypto, the bond market comeback, why diversification still matters, and more. We're also talking about Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) today. Shawna Hausman from FSAStore joined us to help you spend those FSA dollars before the year-end deadline. She shares some of the less-known items and products that qualify and shares a calculator to help you determine how much to contribute to your FSA next year. Then we'll hear Nick's question about cutting expenses and Doug will share his trivia. Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/katie-gatti-1292. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The holiday season is meant to be spent with activities and people you love, not in the kitchen creating some elegant concoction (unless that's your #1 passion, then go for it!). Even worse, your waistline won't love you ordering DoorDash every night and eating warmed up fast-casual restaurant food. Where's the sweet spot? Karen Nochimowski is the tour-de-force behind Momma Chef, and she today will share recipe ideas from her new 6-Minute Dinners cookbook. It turns out, you don't have to be Gordon Ramsay to make a delicious meal AND it doesn't have to take long to prep, either. In our headlines segment, we dive into recent comments made by Morningstar CEO Kunil Kapoor about direct index investing, and how it can turn index investing "fun." Is that a good thing? We'll share some thoughts. Plus of course, no show would be complete without Doug's trivia and a call into the Lifeline from Paddy, who's worried about FinTech company Blooom closing the doors to customers. Where does he turn for asset allocation suggestions? Hey, Stackers - are you good at communicating about money and have 25 hours a week available? We're hiring! Check it out here. Find full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/karen-nochimowski-1291. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Who are the people that have motivated and inspired you most in your life? The friends and family we surround ourselves with impact all areas of our lives, including financially. Do your closest friends have similar spending habits to you? Today, our roundtable guests talk about the influence our friends have on us. Alissa Maizes (Amplify My Wealth), Len Penzo (len penzo dot com) and OG share their thoughts. They talk about people who have motivated and influenced their money habits, how their habits compare to their friends, and toxic traits in others that they avoid. But that's not all for today! We also have Suzanne Lucas here, The Evil HR Lady, to talk about the recent Twitter layoffs and what you can do if you find yourself in a similar situation. Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1290. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When sudden change happens in your life, how do you handle it? Imagine being told you couldn't perform your job anymore. How would you pivot? Our guest today had a huge and sudden change in his life when, while his wife was in labor with their child, he found out he had injuries that would prevent him from playing football ever again. Eric Wood played in the NFL for nine seasons before his sudden departure. He joins us today to talk about that moment, the immediate changes he had to make, how he set himself up for success after the NFL, and the importance of having mentors and coaches at all stages of life. Think you have nothing in common with an NFL star? Think again! These messages will apply to much of your life. Are you counting on the 4% rule to get you through retirement? You may need to revisit your financial plan. For years there has been suspicion that the 4% rule doesn't work anymore and we dive into exactly why in our headline segment. Joe and OG talk about reviewing your plan consistently and making small changes along the way so you don't run into huge setbacks. Then we'll answer Justin's question about saving for future college expenses and Doug will share his trivia. Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/eric-wood-1289. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When most people think about real estate rentals, they think short-term or long-term investing options. Did you know there's a huge market for mid-term rentals? Mid-term rentals are perfect for traveling nurses, business executives at a temporary location, or someone looking to try out a new location before making a big move. Our guest today, Zeona McIntyre, stumbled into mid-term rentals and has now built her real estate portfolio around the strategy. She talks about going from juggling low-profit rentals just to get started, and shares ideas on how you can start your real estate investing journey too. Were you one of the Taylor Swift fans who tried to get tickets to her latest concert? Ticketmaster was a disaster, with many people waiting hours to snag their tickets. Those who couldn't get tickets found them on the secondary market for tens of thousands of dollars. Randy Nichols is a music manager who currently manages the band Underoath. He joined us to talk behind the scenes on how ticket sales work and why Ticketmaster's crashed so badly this time. Then we'll answer "Brian's" (we have our doubts. It sounds suspiciously similar to someone else we know) question from Wisconsin about probate and Doug will share this trivia. Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/zeona-mcintyre-1288. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you ever feel FOMO seeing the investments that the super wealthy have access to? Private investments, hedge funds, and other alternative investments get a lot of hype but they also come with a ton of risk. Some of these investments do make sense for the everyday investor but there's no need to get stuck in a cycle of FOMO. Our roundtable today talks about the difference in investing based on the. size of your portfolio. Roger Whitney (The Retirement Answer Man), Len Penzo (len penzo dot com) and Paulette Perhach (Powerhouse Writers) join our roundtable today. They talk about the FOMO they've all felt with being unable to access certain investments and how to get past that FOMO to create investment goals and a portfolio that works for you. Angelo Poli from MetPro also joins us to talk about health and wellness this holiday season. He talks about, controlling the urge to snack, and shares how to go into the new year with a fresh look at your health. Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1287. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

'Tis the season for parties, gatherings, AND....awkward discussions with people you need for networking opportunities. Public speaking creates massive anxiety for many people, and even more so during the holiday season with endless parties and get-togethers. But guess what? Being an introvert, shy or anxious isn't a defining characteristic. Public speaking is a skill that you can build and actually excel at. Our guest today, John Bowe, saw this first-hand with a family member. His step-cousin went from an introvert whom no one understood to unbelievably finding a spouse. The big turning point was learning how to connect with people. John shares how we can all connect with others better and become better speakers. In our headline segment, we are talking about diversification. Many people get it wrong when it comes to diversification. We share why and how you can smooth out the bumpy ride in the stock market with diversification. We'll also answer Ricky's question about his mom's IRA allocation and Doug will share his trivia. Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/john-bowe-1286. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We dive deep today into the creation of a new podcast series from FastCompany about women and work FastCompany scoured the nation to find mother/daughter pairs to tell their own stories of the world of work. How they created the series is a testament to the power of working toward excellence, but the topic itself is also beyond compelling. 43% of women leave the workforce after having children, which is disturbingly often not always their preferred choice. Today we talk with Kate Davis, FastCompany Deputy Editor about the American Dream and women and what we all can do to improve our ability to earn more and to help others earn. While it's true that you can't change history, women often face challenges today in the workplace that should have been resolved years ago, so we discuss what we can do now. We'll also share clips from several of those women, and Kate offers additional research and solutions based on her work. Is Congress bringing some changes to retirement plans? It looks likely, though currently the government is sitting on the Secure 2.0 bill with a deadline just a few weeks away. We'll talk about the changes proposed in the bill and how to get your retirement savings on track whether or not this legislation passes. We'll also answer Timmy's question about brokered CDs and Doug will share his trivia. Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/kate-davis-1285. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

What is your tipping etiquette? Tipping at restaurants is more straightforward than tipping at a coffee shop or when you order takeout. Even more complicated is tipping for services like hair salons or your trash service provider. How do you determine how much to tip and when? Our roundtable today shares their thoughts. Barbara Sloan (Tipped Finance), Len Penzo (len penzo dot com), and OG join us to talk about their tipping habits. They also talk about tipping in unusual situations and what to do when someone swings the iPad around for you to add a tip. And, of course, Doug will continue his tipping-themed trivia for our annual competition. Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1284. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you ever look around your house and wonder how you accumulated so much stuff? It's the holiday season and you're about to bring in even more. There's stuff everywhere and we keep buying more. "Spring cleaning" is a great idea, but today's guest believes that decluttering your life begins with deciding what you actually bring INTO your home to begin with. Tracy McCubbin is our favorite organizational expert who's learned the hard way. Her father is a hoarder, and she's seen firsthand the mess it can create in people's lives. Tracy joins us today to talk about decluttering your house and your life and shares some of the most common clutter magnets. Crypto is back in the news and back in our headline segment. This time, we focus on crypto arbitrage. What is that and should you try it? Joe and OG will explain. Then we'll answer an anonymous (aka Janet) caller's question about simplifying the number of funds in her 401k account. And of course, Doug will share his trivia. Find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/tracy-mccubbin-1283. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today YOU are in the driver's seat with questions about annuities, opening accounts, the stock market, savings account options, unclaimed property, and more...but before that, we dive into a headline on real estate that could make you think twice before investing in it. We'll share details and what questions you should ask regarding these "deals." Plus we share a TikTok minute sure to make you think about your utility bills differently, AND Doug also asks a trivia question you just might get right. You can find the full show notes at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/listener-questions-1282. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at https://www.StackingBenjamins.com/201 Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Tired of not knowing how to get into money topics with friends OR sick of boring holiday parties where someone picked out a lame game from Walmart? We'll solve BOTH problems today with our friends from the Australia-based YouTube channel Thinker Themer, Amy and Maggie! They're board game reviewers who walk us through two lists, one detailing great games introducing people to money or economic themes, and the other with party games that will be sure to entertain your friends and family over this holiday season. They're sure to bring some games you've never heard of that can provide hours of entertainment for a lot less money than a night at a bar or trip to the local cinema. You'll find show notes for this episode at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/amy-and-maggie-thinker-themer-1281. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ever paid for some sweet new tech gadget and it didn't work as advertised? Sometimes a "deal" isn't really a great deal...which is why we love saving you some money on these big-ticket items. Tech gadgets are always towards the top of wish lists and we'll wade into the best and worst deals this week. Our guest today knows more than most of us about the latest tech. Bridget Carey from CNET joins us for our annual walk through all of the hottest tech deals AND also shares what to shy away from. Not all Black Friday deals are created equal and she shines a light on what you should pay attention to this year. But all of these deals could mess up your long-range planning if you aren't careful. That's why, in our headline segment, we're joined by financial therapist Dr. Erika Rasure from Beyond Finance. She joins us to detail how to make the most of this season, and how to recognize patterns of unhealthy spending. She also shares tips to keep your budget in check this holiday season. We'll also answer Austin's question about taking a fixed-rate or adjustable-rate mortgage. Which is better in this environment? And to top off our pre-Thanksgiving festivities, Doug will share yet another incredible trivia question. You'll find show notes for this episode at https://www.stackingbenjamins.com/bridget-carey-1280. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ready to save big money this holiday season? Before you hop on the internet or stand in line this week for the hottest deal, we've got some HUGE money-saving tips for you. Regina Conway from SlickDeals is back this year to share 2022's hottest Black Friday deals. Avoid shopping at the wrong store when the better deal is somewhere else. As she does every year on this special episode, Regina shares timely and specific advice for shopping with a plan this season. Make your list, do research, and find ways to stack coupons. Regina shares top deals in beauty, toys, home improvement, kitchen appliances, and more. She also shares how to find additional deals through the SlickDeals community. We're continuing the money-saving tips and tricks with our headline. Joe and OG dive into a piece about how to find the best deals this week AND the best strategies to save more money. They also talk about how to stay on budget and hide money from yourself. Then we'll answer Matt's question about what to think about before retirement and Doug will share his trivia. You'll find show notes for this episode at stackingbenjamins.com/regina-conway-1279. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are in our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mentors can be monumental to success. The right one can help propel your career and personal life by guiding you to your goals. We have three great contributors to our roundtable today who discuss the value of a mentor. Sharita Humphrey, Len Penzo, and Paulette Perhach join us to share lessons they've learned from their mentors and how to find the right one for you. They also talk about the importance of being coachable and that eagerness to continually learn. But we can't leave the show without Doug and his trivia. He'll share another piece of trivia as our contributors continue the chase to win our annual competition. You'll find show notes for this episode at stackingbenjamins.com/roundtable-1278. Deeper dives with curated links, topics, and discussions are on our newsletter, The 201, available at StackingBenjamins.com/201. Enjoy! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices